Head Coach Danny Wilson praised a ruthless performance by his Cardiff Blues as they tore up the record books to defeat Zebre 61-13 on the opening day of the season at BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park.
Rhys Patchell and Josh Turnbull both grabbed nine-minute hat-tricks while Aled Summerhill and Josh Navidi got a brace and Tom James marked his return with a score.
The result saw Blues eclipse the region’s previous highest score on home soil in the league and also number of tries scored in a Guinness PRO12 game.
And Wilson now wants his players to use that as a benchmark as they look to build in the coming weeks.
“We are really pleased,” he said. “We scored some fantastic tries, don’t get me wrong, and put them to the sword with our high tempo rugby. But what was most pleasing was that we stuck to task and were ruthless.
“The moment that defined the game for me was Dan Fish chasing back when we are 40 points up, making a try-saving tackle under the sticks and then we defend, keep them out and then go down the other end and score.
“That is what we need to do, change the image of Cardiff Blues to that. We are a team that will fight to the end and is proud of our defence.”
“There were some fantastic tries and for Josh Turnbull to get a hat-trick especially is something we won’t hear the end of,” smiled Wilson.
“Rhys (Patchell) will admit his kicking at goal was a little bit off, but he didn’t let that distract from the rest of his game.
“He defended well and got us going forward; I’m pleased for him and that performance.”
Meanwhile, Wilson revealed the region would await medical checks on winger James after he was forced off just before half-time.
“Tom will be assessed by the medical team and we will await reports. He is in ice and we will see how his foot is.”